South Whidbey Record

Crowd loves Langley’s history

January 30, 2013 · Updated 1:46 PM Comments

Saturday night at WICA, Bill Hunziker, 90, was the oldest present, son of Stanley Hunziker. The youngest was Brooke Comstock, age 9, granddaughter of Joan Hunziker Myhre, great-granddaughter of Walt Hunziker Jr. The narrative of the presentation centered around the Hunziker family. / Photo courtesy of Bob Thurmond

Interest in Langley’s history turned out to be huge Saturday night when the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts theater filled to capacity and some had to be turned away.

The massive standing room only crowd watched Bob Waterman & Friends put on a tremendous show, an informative, compelling and funny dramatization of Langley’s first 100 years centered around the pioneer Hunziker family.

The show was scripted by Bob Waterman, Jill Johnson and Gail Fleming who played the main characters as historic photographs were projected on the walls.

“People absolutely loved it,” said Janet Ploof, president of the sponsoring Downtown Langley Main Street Association.

“It’s just incredible that 250 people turned out to hear the history of the town. There was huge applause at the end,” Ploof continued.

Framed and enhanced by Langley photographer Rick Frishman, they look outstanding, said Ploof. The photos will remain on display for several weeks.

Langley’s year-long Centennial Celebration will continue with a host of special events, among them a Mother’s Day Tea set in 1913 and some street theater: A suffragette march downtown complete with male hecklers, to be held May 11.